WO2004018759A1 - Electrical household appliance equipped with a control device and a display device - Google Patents

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention concerns an electrical household apparatus, for example a washing machine, equipped with a control device in the form of a panel, said panel comprising a display device for providing visual data to the user. Said panel (10) is made of a material which is substantially opaque when it has a normal thickness (14). One area specific to the display device (15) comprises at least one transparency zone (20) wherein the thickness of the panel material is reduced relative to the thickness of the material outside said transparency zone such that light from a light source (16), for example a light-emitting diode, located behind the panel may pass through said transparency zone. Such a configuration provides backlighted panels having a closed surface. In another embodiment, the control device is in the form of a turning knob (70, 80).

Description

 description

Electrical household appliance with operating device and display device

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to an electrical household appliance, in particular a washing machine, a tumble dryer or a dishwasher, with at least one operating device, which is assigned at least one display device for visual operator information.

The housings of washing machines, dryers, dishwashers or other electrical household appliances of comparable sizes are usually made up of several parts and have panels on which operating elements and display devices for optical operator information are arranged. Nowadays, these panels are predominantly made from high-strength, impact-resistant plastic by injection molding. The controls in the form of knobs, switches, buttons, touch surfaces or the like allow the user to operate the device manually. Display devices are provided for displaying the device status and / or for displaying values, for example temperature values or the like. Multi-segment displays, such as LCD displays, are often used to display values. To. Status indicators are usually used with LED indicators, which are normally switched so that they light up when a corresponding status is active. To assemble the LCD displays or the light-emitting diodes, shape-adapted through openings are either already formed during the spraying process or introduced by subsequent mechanical processing.

Particularly for applications in damp rooms, such as in washing machines or tumble dryers, it is advisable to to seal the range of display devices used so that no moisture gets through the panel into the electronic control device of the device which is usually arranged behind the panel. The panels also offer little flexibility in the formation of variants, since for each equipment variant of an electrical household appliance, which is characterized by a certain number and certain types of display devices, specially adapted panels with a corresponding number of openings must be provided. The lack of flexibility in the creation of variants adversely affects achievable delivery times and the costs of the finished devices.

Task and solution

The object of the invention is to create an electrical household appliance of the type mentioned at the outset, for the manufacture of which there is a high degree of flexibility in the formation of variants and which is distinguished by functional reliability and an appealing design.

To achieve this object, the invention provides an electrical household appliance with the features of claim 1. Furthermore, an operating device or a panel for such an electrical household appliance is provided with the features of claim 28. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of all claims is made the content of the description by express reference.

In an electrical household appliance according to the invention of the type mentioned at the outset, the operating device consists at least partially of a covering material which is essentially opaque given the standard material thickness selected for the surface of the operating device. In an area provided for the display device, the operating device has at least one fluoroscopic area in which the material thickness of the covering material is reduced in comparison to the standard material thickness in such a way that the fluoroscopic area can be at least partially illuminated by the light from a light source assigned to the operating device. If the light source is not activated, the fluoroscopic area should be opaque.

A multitude of devices can serve as the operating device. This will be discussed in more detail.

Operating devices according to the invention therefore need not have any through holes in the area of the display device for introducing light sources, displays or the like. Rather, according to the invention it is possible with a suitable choice of material for the operating device to make it translucent in the fluoroscopic area and, in the rest, in the vicinity of the fluoroscopic area and in all areas not required for an optical display function with such a large wall thickness that the operating device as a dimensionally stable component has a protective function can take over for the components arranged behind the operating device.

It can be provided that the light source is arranged opposite the fluoroscopic area on the rear of the operating device.

In particular, any suitable plastic can be selected as the covering material, for example a suitable ABS plastic, as is used, for example, in conventional panels for household appliances or in housings for other electrical appliances. In the case of plastic screens, it is possible to introduce the fluoroscopic area into the component during the manufacturing process by appropriately shaping the injection mold, so that no mechanical post-processing is necessary. However, it is also possible to use a conventional provided the control device to subsequently introduce fluoroscopic areas, for example by machining.

The standard material thickness is normally in the range above 1 mm, in particular at least 2 mm. These material thicknesses are sufficient to ensure sufficient stability even with extensive operating devices or, for example, panels. In contrast, the material thickness in the fluoroscopic area should be less than 0.8 mm at least in some areas. In particular, it should be between approx. 0.3 mm and approx. 0.5 mm. It has been shown that, for example in ABS plastics, material thicknesses of approx. 0.3 to 0.4 mm are sufficiently transparent for light from commercially available light sources equipped with normal luminosity, such as LED displays, to be clear even in bright rooms To enable distinction between switched on and off light source.

The invention makes it possible to create operating devices whose front surface facing the operator in the area of the display device is closed, ie uninterrupted or continuous. In contrast to conventional operating devices, there are no openings, cracks or the like through which, for example, moisture and / or contaminants could penetrate. The front surface is usually smooth and easy to clean. In many embodiments, it is the case that a, preferably permanent, marking is attached to the front of the diaphragm in the vicinity of the fluoroscopic area and / or in the fluoroscopic area, which identification can be used, for example, to recognize the function to which the corresponding light source is assigned by means of a suitable symbol. It can be, for example, symbols, numbers, letters and / or the like printed or produced by laser processing. The effect achieved by the invention, namely to create areas that are partially or partially transparent in areas that are closed to the outside with a continuous, gap-free surface, would also be achievable if small “windows” made of plastic were provided in the area of a display device during the manufacture of an operating device which is significantly more permeable to the light from the light source than the plastic used for the other parts of the diaphragm, but the use of a single covering material for thick and thin areas is considerably less expensive.

The invention makes it possible to use the same operating device with a predetermined number of fluoroscopic areas for all devices of a device series which can be distinguished by a large number of different equipment variants. This number of fluoroscopic areas should correspond to the maximum possible number of states and / or display devices to be displayed. If one or the other function is not provided in the case of simpler equipment variants, the corresponding fluoroscopic area need not be used. It is then also not recognizable in the outer appearance of the diaphragm, since without backlighting, the fluoroscopic areas are usually indistinguishable from the opaque areas surrounding them.

In the case of simple variants, the fluoroscopic region can essentially be characterized by a recess made in the cover material from the rear, in the region of which the material thickness is brought to a thickness which can be radiated. In some embodiments, it is provided that the back side of the operating device facing or facing the light source is provided with a macroscopic surface structuring in the fluoroscopic area. This can be, for example, a scattering structure which leads to a uniform illumination of a more extensive fluoroscopic contributes, even if only a single, small-area light source is used.

A macroscopic surface structuring can have a number of grooves and raised sections, these then having to be dimensioned such that the covering material is so thin, at least in some areas of the grooves, that it can be transilluminated. In the case of a surface structure with grooves or furrows, which correspond to areas of lesser material thickness, and thicker webs or raised sections, the raised sections can pass from one edge to the other of the fluoroscopic area. In this way, they contribute to a mechanical stabilization of the fluoroscopic area. In this case, the macroscopic surface structuring can fulfill a double function. The cross-sectional shape of the grooves can be, for example, V-shaped, U-shaped, trapezoidal or rectangular. The shape of the grooves can be straight or curved. For example, structures with parallel furrows in one direction or with crossed furrows, for example in two directions running perpendicular to one another, are possible. In this case, for example in the case of V-shaped or trapezoidal grooves, the raised sections lying in between can be pyramid-shaped and, if appropriate, form a structure that scatters the light. Structures with concentric circles are also conceivable. With all structures, even or uneven distances between individual furrows or the like are possible.

Additional light-changing or light-guiding devices can be arranged in or on the fluoroscopic area. These can consist of separate parts. It is possible to color the facilities. So-called color discs or color filters are also suitable. At least one light-changing or light-guiding device from the following group is advantageously provided:

Light guides, light distributors, light deflectors, concentrators, lenses, prisms. Of course, several functionalities can also be formed in one device. In the case of light-conducting elements, the light source can also be arranged further away from the fluoroscopic area.

On the one hand, the light-changing or light-guiding device can be permanently and permanently connected to the operating device near or directly at the fluoroscopic area. Either gluing or overmolding or injecting is a good option. Injection is advantageously carried out in a multi-component process.

On the other hand, the light-changing or light-guiding device can be detachably attached to the operating device. Here, for example, screw connections or clip or snap connections are preferably used.

It is also possible to provide at least one recess in the form of a multi-segment display in the fluoroscopic area, for example in the form of a seven-segment display. At least one separately controllable light source can be assigned to each of the segments in order to make the corresponding furrow appear in a targeted manner. On the back of the operating device, shading webs or the like can optionally be formed on the operating device between the individual furrows corresponding to the segments, in order to prevent overexposure of light sources into unassigned segment sections.

Display devices according to the invention can largely be provided separately or in spatial association with other operating elements, such as mechanical buttons, rotary knobs, sliders or the like. hen. In preferred embodiments, an integration of a display device with an associated control element is provided. This enables a combined display and control element to be created. In particular, the fluoroscopic area can be assigned a sensor device for generating a switching signal, which comprises at least one sensor element which responds when a finger or the like and / or when it comes into contact with a fingertip or the like in order to initiate the generation of a switching signal (proximity or touch sensor) , The control element can be designed, for example, as a capacitive control panel in a sandwich construction, as disclosed in German utility model DE 201 19 700.6. The relevant disclosure content of this application is made the content of the present application by express reference.

As mentioned above, such an operating device can be, for example, a panel, but also a movable operating device in the form of a rotary or sliding toggle or a button. A movable operating device can be attached to a panel or a side, advantageously the front, of the electrical household appliance. On the one hand, a light source can at least partially protrude into this movable operating device, preferably be arranged therein. On the other hand, the light source can be arranged in the electrical household appliance outside the operating device. For example, a light-guiding channel can lead from the light source to the fluoroscopic area, the light-guiding channel in particular being a light guide.

The invention also relates to an operating device or an aperture of the type described with at least one fluoroscopic area. Such operating devices or panels offer maximum flexibility in the display and coloring of the device operating front, which is formed or shaped by the front surface of the panel facing the operator. Panels according to the invention are easy to manufacture and mountable. They enable the introduction of light-conducting and / or illumination-shaping devices into the plastic injection material, for example scattering structures or the like, in a simple manner. The reliability of the electrical devices equipped with panels according to the invention increases because penetration of moisture and contaminants in the area of the panel is reliably avoided.

The above and further features emerge from the claims as well as from the description of the drawings, the individual features being realized individually and in groups in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and being advantageous and protective designs can present themselves.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained in more detail below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic section through the area of a panel of an embodiment of the invention, in which a circuit board with a light emitting diode is provided as a light source behind the panel;

2 (a) - (c) schematically show different embodiments of fluoroscopic areas, the back of which has a macroscopic surface structure;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective sectional view through a fluoroscopic area with recesses in the form of a seven-segment display. FIG. 4 shows a modification of the diaphragm from FIG. 1 in a simplified representation with an injected light guide;

5 shows a schematic section through a rotary toggle with a fluoroscopic area and protruding light guide, a point on the front surface of the rotary toggle being illuminated in each rotational position; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic section through a rotary toggle similar to FIG. 5 with a fluoroscopic area and a protruding one

Light guide, whereby a point on the side of the rotary knob is only illuminated in one rotary position.

Detailed description of the exemplary embodiments

The schematic representation in Fig. 1 shows a section through the front panel of a laundry drier in the region of the user facing diaphragm 10. The diaphragm 10 is a one-piece plastic Spritzgußb ^'Auteil, which is made in the example made of ABS plastic. The dimensionally stable component has a front side 11 facing the user with a smooth, glossy, closed surface 12. At most points on the panel, the standard material thickness of this panel 10 is, ie the distance between front surface 12 and rear surface 13 is approximately 2. 6 mm. With this material thickness, the cover material ABS is opaque to visible light, so that the components of the device behind the cover, in particular the components of an electronic control, are not visible from the front. With this material thickness, the panel material is torsion-resistant, so that the entire panel is self-supporting as a separate component and can be attached to the device in a simple manner, for example by screws, during assembly. A display device 15 for optical operator information is assigned to the panel. This display device comprises a light source 16 designed as a light-emitting diode, which is mounted on a printed circuit board 17, which is connected to the diaphragm by fastening elements, not shown. In the area provided for the display device, the screen 10 has a circular fluoroscopic area 20, in which the material thickness of the screen material is reduced compared to the standard material thickness 14 in such a way that the fluoroscopic area is at least partially covered by the light from the light source 16 arranged opposite the rear side 13 of the screen its surface can be X-rayed. The fluoroscopic area 20 is essentially formed by an area of reduced material thickness in the aperture 10. It is enclosed by a circumferential web 18 projecting from the light source 16.

In the embodiment, an approximately circular recess was formed in the manufacture of the panel 10 in the injection molding process by suitable shaping of the tool, on the bottom facing the front side 11 of which a macroscopic surface structure in the form of furrows 21 and intervening raised portions 22 is formed. The furrows and raised sections each have a triangular cross section. In the region of the apex of the raised portions 22 facing the light source, the material thickness is approximately 0.5 mm, while in the region of the bottoms of the furrows 21 facing the surface 12 it is only approximately 0.3 mm. These material thicknesses are matched to the optical properties of the ABS plastic used in such a way that the light from the light-emitting diode 16 in the area of the raised portions 22 is weak and in the area of the furrows 21 is strong and clearly visible from the outside the diaphragm material in the fluoroscopic area 20, so that an operator can be seen from the front 11 through the cover whether the light emitting diode 16 is switched on or off. The fluoroscopic area 20 of reduced material thickness thus has the function of a milk glass window, which is formed in one piece with the surrounding screen material The structured surface facing the light source 16 generates a certain scattering effect in order to enable a relatively uniform illumination of the entire fluoroscopic area 20 regardless of the shape of the light source 16. If necessary, an optically appealing stripe structure can be seen within the illuminated area.

The light-emitting diode 16 serves as an optical status indicator for a function of the clothes dryer. The tumble dryer can, for example, be configured such that the light-emitting diode 16 lights up when a crease protection function or a gentle drying cycle is switched on. An identical or analog display can also be provided for the start / stop function, for example. Other operating modes can also be displayed in the manner shown. In order to allow a clear assignment for the operator between the lighting up of a fluoroscopic area 20 and an assigned function of the device, an identification 25 is applied to the front surface 12 of the screen 10 by printing. This comprises a closed ring 26, which surrounds the fluoroscopic area, and a symbol 27 characterizing the corresponding function within the ring 26.

The embodiment of an electrical household appliance shown is characterized by maximum ease of use, which is supported by the fact that in this embodiment the display device is combined with a capacitive actuating device in a sandwich construction. The function indicated by the identification 25 can be switched on or off by the operator by actuating a capacitive sensor device. The sensor device comprises a sensor element 30 applied to the rear side 13 of the diaphragm 10, which surrounds the fluoroscopic area 20 outside of the web 18 in a ring, and a controller 31 on the printed circuit board 17. A possible construction of such a sensor element and its function are described by way of example. is represented in EP 859 468, the content of which is made by reference to the content of the present application. A corresponding description can also be found in DE 201 19 700.6 by the applicant, the content of which is also made the content of this description by reference. The size of such a sensor element is typically in the region of the size of a fingertip, for example a side edge length or a diameter can be between approximately 10 mm and approximately 25 mm.

An elongated, pin - like contact part 32 extends from the printed circuit board 17 with the controller 31, with which it is connected in an electrically conductive manner via a flat contact, to a contact field of the sensor element 30. In this way, the sensor element 30 is electrically conductive with the controller 31 or the circuit board 17 connected. The contact part can be made elastic, for example as a metallic coil spring or as a compressible element made of conductive, elastic plastic.

The sensor element 30 is applied directly to the rear side 13 of the panel 10 with the aid of a printing process, for example a suitable screen printing process. As an alternative to using a screen printing method with an electrically conductive mass for the sensor element 30, a metal foil-like part or plate can also be attached to the rear side 13 of the screen by gluing or in some other way. Metallized or metallic adhesive films can also be used as sensor elements 30.

If an operator now brings his finger close to or onto the area identified by the identifier 25, a change in capacitance occurs in an electrical circuit comprising the sensor element, which change is further processed by the controller 31 to generate a switching signal. Simultaneously with switching on or switching off the corresponding function, the LED 16 is also switched on or off.

2 and 3, alternative shapes and structures of fluoroscopic areas are shown. 2 (a) shows a circular fluoroscopic area 35, in which the area of low material thickness on the side facing the light source has a pyramid structure with a large number of square pyramids 36 directly adjacent to one another. If the light source side of the fluoroscopic area is generated by material removal, the pyramid structure can be produced by producing furrows with a V-shaped cross section directly next to one another in directions 37, 38 which are perpendicular to one another. If the structure is produced during injection molding, the corresponding part of the tool can have a circular area with a corresponding waffle structure. The pyramid structure has a scattering effect, so that the fluoroscopic area appears largely uniformly illuminated by the operator, regardless of the shape of the light source.

The aperture 40 shown in detail in FIG. 2 (b) has a rectangular fluoroscopic area 41 which is formed by V-shaped grooves and raised sections running parallel to one another. The material thickness of the diaphragm material in the area of the furrow bottoms facing the front surface 42 is so thin at about 0.3 to 0.4 mm that there is sufficient transparency here. In the area of the tips of the raised sections on the rear side 43, the material is largely opaque with a material thickness of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 mm. In this way, the fluoroscopic area 41 appears in a striped pattern when the light source is switched on.

2 (c) shows an example of an aperture which has a circular fluoroscopic area 46 in which macroscopic see surface structures are arranged in the form of concentric circles, which can be formed, for example, by rectangular or V-grooves.

The examples of fluoroscopic areas shown so far can preferably be used in conjunction with simple light sources to indicate the switching status of a function (on or off). For many devices, it is also desirable to assign values assigned to an operating mode or an additional function, e.g. Display pre-selection times, remaining terms, degrees of humidity, temperatures or the like. In conventional devices, multi-segment displays are often used for this purpose, for example LCD or LED seven-segment displays. A corresponding functionality can also be provided using the invention.

3 schematically shows an aperture 50 which has a material thickness of approximately 2.6 mm in its thickest, illustrated regions. In a rectangular area 51 provided for a display device, the material thickness is reduced to approximately 1 mm. A further reduction in wall thickness takes place within this area in order to create a fluoroscopic area 60 in the form of a seven-segment display. For this purpose, furrows 54 to 57 with a trapezoidal cross section are introduced at the bottom of the rectangular area, ie on the rear side opposite the front side 52. The furrows form an overall configuration in the form of a rectangular figure eight and can be thought of as being broken down into seven functionally separate partial furrows or furrow segments analogous to a seven-segment display. A group of light sources is assigned to each of the furrow segments. A row of three light-emitting diodes 58 is shown as an example, which are arranged at a short distance behind the rear side 53 in the region of the transverse furrow 55 that can be seen above. If these light sources 58 light up, the emerging light essentially falls only into the transverse furrow 55, which then lights up on the front side 52 so that the operator can see it. To prevent the light from shining into other segments, you can these can be shielded from the light of the light sources 58 by suitable shields, not shown. Likewise, a row (not shown) of three light-emitting diodes is provided for the central transverse furrow 57, for example. Two independently controllable groups of three light-emitting diodes are arranged on each of the longitudinal furrows 54, 56, which are to be broken down into two part furrows and illuminate these part furrows.

By suitable control of the light sources assigned to the furrow segments, any number and letter can be symbolized with this display in the manner of a seven-segment display. A display device normally has a plurality of such seven-segment fluoroscopic areas arranged next to one another, for example four such areas, in order to display times or time intervals, possibly also for displaying temperatures or the like.

FIG. 4 shows a highly simplified illustrated modification of the aperture 10 ^'shown in FIG. 1. The diaphragm 60 shown in FIG. 4 has a smooth front 61. Of course, symbols or the like could be applied here, corresponding to FIG. 1. The diaphragm 60 has a material thickness 14 which is normal per se, for example corresponding to that in FIG. 1. The fluoroscopic area 63, on the other hand, is again thinner, roughly corresponding to that in FIG. 1. However, it has no structure.

A so-called light distribution plate 65 is provided for this. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 4, this is embedded in the material of the screen 60.

The embedding of the light distribution plate 65 in the diaphragm 60 can, in principle, as described above, be carried out in various ways. In Fig. 4 it is injected, in a so-called called two-component process. This is known per se and therefore does not need to be explained in more detail here. In this way, the light distribution plate 65, which can be made of transparent plastic such as acrylic, is firmly and non-detachably and immovably embedded.

Instead of injection, a light distribution plate 65 could also be clipped on. This would be possible if the back engagement in FIG. 4 were less. A clipping is less complex in itself from the manufacturing effort of the panel. However, an assembly process is required.

A first light guide 67 is arranged behind the light distribution plate 65. Light from a light-emitting diode 66 is coupled into the light distribution plate 65 via a second light guide 68 and the first light guide 67. This can be explained per se for the person skilled in the art from the drawing in connection with the above description and need not be explained in more detail here.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the first and the second light guides 67 and 68 can be fastened to the printed circuit board 62, for example clamped or glued.

Actuating devices, for example sensor elements, are advantageously arranged on the diaphragm 60, again in a similar way to that shown in FIG. 1, in the vicinity of the fluoroscopic area 63. For the sake of simplicity, this representation is omitted here.

While fixed or immovable control devices have been shown in the form of an aperture in the preceding figures, FIGS. 5 and 6 show movable control devices, namely rotary knobs. A rotary toggle 70 is shown in FIG. 5. This is on the front of a conventional screen 71, which for example is also a glass ceramic Hotplate can be arranged. It is seated on a rotary shaft 72, which is connected to a switching device 73 arranged behind the cover 71. By turning the rotary knob 70, the switching device 73 is actuated.

An LED 76 is arranged behind the aperture 71. This emits light into a second light guide 78. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the light guide 78 projects through the through opening 74 in the diaphragm 71. In this area, the second light guide 78 is circumferential, that is to say roughly pot-shaped.

A first light guide 77 is connected to the second light guide 78 in a light-conducting manner at a short distance from the latter. As can be seen, the first light guide 77 is enclosed in the rotary knob 70. With its front end, the light guide 77 extends into a fluoroscopic area 75 on the front surface of the rotary toggle 70. In the fluoroscopic area 75, the material thickness of the front is, according to the invention, again considerably less than the otherwise given standard material thickness.

Due to the circumferential design of the second light guide 78 above the diaphragm 71, light is emitted continuously in every rotational position. The first light guide 77, on the other hand, is more rod-shaped. It can take up light from the second light guide 78 in any rotational position and emit it essentially in the form of a point in the fluoroscopic area 75. The first light guide 77 is advantageously fastened in the rotary toggle 70 by plugging in with a press fit or gluing.

FIG. 6 shows a further rotary toggle 80, which is a modification of the rotary toggle 70 from FIG. 5. The rotary toggle 80 is connected to the switching device 83 by means of the rotary shaft 82 via a through opening 84 in the diaphragm 81. Here, an LED 86 is connected to a second light guide 88. The second light guide 88 projects, for example in the manner of a rod, through the passage opening 84 into the interior of the rotary knob 80. In contrast to FIG. 5, the second light guide is not cup-shaped or circumferential.

The second light guide 88 connects to a first light guide 87 and couples light into it. The first light guide 87 is oriented towards the side of the rotary toggle 80 at a lateral fluoroscopic area 85. In this fluoroscopic area 85, the material thickness is in turn reduced compared to the other standard material thickness so that the material is translucent according to the invention and the transmitted light of the LED 86 radiates outwards as shown.

This variation of a rotary knob 80 thus causes a light signal or the like to be emitted in a single rotational position of the rotary knob 80. This is precisely the position in which the first light guide 87 rotating by rotation exactly matches the first light guide 88 fixed on the diaphragm 81.

The purpose for which a rotary toggle 70 according to FIG. 5 or a rotary toggle 80 according to FIG. 6 is used can be decided according to a variety of criteria and therefore does not need to be explained.

It is pointed out once again that the drawings are to be understood only schematically. This applies in particular to sizes or thicknesses or size relationships to one another.

The invention explained by way of example using a few exemplary embodiments can be used to provide display devices of any design for use in electrical or electrically controlled systems, apparatus or devices, especially in household appliances. Preferred fields of application are large household appliances, for example washing machines, dryers or dishwashers, which are conventionally or the like with consistently non-transparent plastic screens or control devices such as rotary knobs. are provided. If these are modified in accordance with the invention, there are cost-effective options for ensuring the greatest possible flexibility in the formation of variants of display devices. Thanks to the invention, a type of aperture with prepared fluoroscopic areas can be used for an entire family of devices with a wide variety of functionality, which can then be combined with suitable lighting devices, depending on the device configuration. Since panels with displays and closed surfaces can be created on the basis of the invention, a high degree of functional reliability with an extremely appealing appearance is possible.

Claims

claims 1. Household electrical appliance, in particular washing machine, dryer or dishwasher, with at least one operating device (10, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80), the at least one display device (15) with a light source (16, 66, 76, 86) for optical Operator information is assigned, the operating device consisting at least partially of a covering material which is essentially opaque at a standard material thickness (14) and at least one fluoroscopic area (20, 35, 41, 46, 60, 63) in an area provided for the display device , 75, 85), in which the material thickness of the covering material is reduced in comparison to the standard material thickness in such a way that the illumination area can be illuminated by the light from the light source (16). 2. Household electrical appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source (16, 66, 76, 86) opposite the fluoroscopic area (20, 35, 41, 46, 60, 63, 75, 85) on the rear of the operating device (10 , 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) is arranged. 3. Electrical household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover material is a plastic, in particular an ABS plastic. 4. Household electrical appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluoroscopic area (20, 35, 41, 46, 60, 63, 75, 85) of the operating device (10, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) during manufacture the operating device is formed by injection molding. 5. Household electrical appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the standard material thickness (14) is more than about 1 mm, in particular at least 2 mm. 6. Electrical household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material thickness in the fluoroscopic area (20, 35, 41, 46, 60, 63, 75, 85) is at least in regions less than approx. 0.8 mm, in particular less than approx 0.5 mm, preferably between approximately 0.3 mm and approximately 0.5 mm. 7. Electrical household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a user-facing front surface (12) of the operating device in the area of the display device (15) is closed and / or substantially smooth. 8. Elektrohaushaltsgerat according to any one of the preceding _claims, characterized in that a user-facing front surface (12) preferably permanently visible, having the operating device in the vicinity and / or in the transillumination area a, marking (25) for the light source associated functionality. 9. Household electrical appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear side (13, 43, 53) of the operating device facing or facing the light source has a macroscopic surface structuring in the fluoroscopic area (20). 10. Household electrical appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the surface structuring is designed as a structure which scatters the light from the light source (16). 11. Household electrical appliance according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the surface structure has a number of grooves (21) and raised portions (22), the covering material being at least partially transilluminated at least in the region of the grooves. 12. Household electrical appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the fluoroscopic area (20, 35, 41, 46, 60, 63, 75, 85) additional light-changing or light-guiding devices are arranged, these consisting of separate parts. 13. Household electrical appliance according to claim 12, characterized in that the devices are colored, in particular colored discs. 14. Household electrical appliance according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by at least one device from the following group: light guides, light distributors, light deflectors, concentrators, lenses, prisms; in the case of light-guiding elements, the light source (16) can preferably also be arranged further away from the fluoroscopic area (20, 35, 41, 46, 60, 63, 75, 85). 15. Household electrical appliance according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the light-changing or light-guiding device (65) is permanently and non-detachably connected to the operating device near or directly at the fluoroscopic area (63), in particular is injected in a multi-component process. 16. Household electrical appliance according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the light-changing or light-guiding de device (77, 87) is releasably attached to the operating device, preferably screwed or clipped. 17. Electrical household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating device (50) in the fluoroscopic area (60) has at least one recess in the form of a multi-segment display, in particular in the form of a seven-segment display. 18. Household electrical appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source has at least one light-emitting diode (16, 66, 76, 86). 19. Household electrical appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluoroscopic area (20) is assigned an actuating device (30, 32) for actuating a function or functional device of the electrical household appliance, the actuating device preferably having no movable parts. 20. Household electrical appliance according to claim 19, characterized in that the actuating device has a sensor device (30, 32) or for generating switching signals in response to an approach or touch of an area comprising the fluoroscopic area, the sensor device preferably being designed as a capacitive sensor device. 21. Household electrical appliance according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the actuating device has at least one sensor element attached to a rear side of the operating device. element (30) which encloses the fluoroscopic area (20) at least in sections. 22. Household electrical appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating device is a panel (10) which is arranged in particular in a fixed manner on the electrical household appliance, the covering material being the panel material and for operating further actuating devices such as sensor devices (30, 32) or the like , assigned. 23. Electrical household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the operating device (79, 80) is movable and is arranged on one side of the electrical household appliance, for example an aperture (71, 81), the operation of the electrical household appliance being determined by the direction and / or degree of movement. 24. Electrical household appliance according to claim 23, characterized in that the operating device is a knob (70, 80) with a direction of movement in a plane parallel to the side of the electrical household appliance, preferably a rotary knob. 25. Electrical household appliance according to claim 23, characterized in that the operating device is a button with a direction of movement into the side of the electrical household appliance, preferably a push button. 26. Household electrical appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source (16, 66, 76, 86) at least partially protrudes into the operating device, is preferably arranged therein. 27. Household electrical appliance according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the light source (16, 66, 76, 86) is arranged in the electrical household appliance outside the operating device, preferably with a light-conducting channel from the light source to the fluoroscopic area, in particular the light-guiding channel is a light guide. 28. Operating device, in particular cover, (10, 40, 50) for attachment to an electrical device, in particular to a washing machine, a tumble dryer or a dishwasher, the operating device consisting at least partially of a covering material which is used in a standard selected for the operating device. Material thickness (14) is essentially opaque and has at least one fluoroscopic area (20, 35, 41, 46, 60) in an area provided for a display device for optical operator information, in which the material thickness of the covering material is reduced compared to the standard material thickness so that the fluoroscopic area can be at least partially illuminated by the light of a light source arranged opposite the rear of the operating device. 29. Operating device according to claim 28, characterized by the features of the characterizing part of at least one of claims 2 to 27.